Not all estimates (or contractors) are created equal.
Use this checklist to help make the best decisions when evaluating contractors:
Check for a permanent place of business, telephone number, and tax ID number.- Don’t hesitate to ask the contractor for proof of the insurance he carries.
- Check to see if the contractor is properly licensed or bonded.
- Make sure the contractor is financially stable.
- Look for a company with a proven track record that readily offers client references. Call them.
- Insist on a written proposal and examine it for complete descriptions of the work and specifications.
- Have your contractor list the manufacturers with which his firm has licensed or approved applicator agreements.
- Have the contractor explain his project supervision and quality control procedures.
- Check to see if the contractor is a member of any regional or national industry association.
- Call your Better Business Bureau to check for possible complaints filed against the contractor.
- Carefully read and understand any warranty offered and watch for provisions that would void it.
- Choose a company committed to the safety and education of its workers. The best contractor is only as good as the workers who actually do the work.
- Keep a healthy skepticism about the lowest bid – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
